Airports Authority of Jamaica Celebrates 50 Years in 2024

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 with a series of activities under the theme: ‘Modernising and Growing Jamaica’s Airports Since 1974’.

AAJ President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Audley Deidrick, told JIS News that the Authority is using the entire year to mark this major milestone.

“We didn’t see the 50th anniversary celebration as a one-week or one-month quick sprint; so we had started doing things from the beginning of the year” he said.

Mr. Deidrick informed that the activities kicked off with a staff event, which saw employees being treated to a day of reunion, fun and family reconnection at Yaaman Adventure Park in St. Mary.

There was also a two-part celebration in Montego Bay and Kingston for AAJ pensioners.

The CEO said he was honoured to interact with the organisation’s former leaders and longstanding staff members, and proud that the Authority was able to provide a forum for them to reunite.

He told JIS News that most of the activities will be held in September, beginning with a thanksgiving service on the anniversary date, Sunday, September 1, at Webster Memorial United Church in Kingston.

Also slated is the annual Sangster International Airport Charity 5K and 10K Run/Walk, which will be jointly staged with MBJ Airports Ltd.

Mr. Deidrick explained that this event is a fundraiser for various institutions in Montego Bay and its environs, adding that, this year, the AAJ is the title sponsor.

“We will be very involved in both the staging of the event and participation in the event along with our stakeholders, of course” he stated.

The AAJ President said the high point of the month, will be the staff awards banquet on September 22, during which employees will be recognised for varying years of service in five-year brackets.

There will also be special awards for longest serving staff member, longest serving president, and longest serving airport director, among others.

The event will also be used to recognise former leaders of the AAJ, including Ministers of Government, Chairmen and Presidents.

A recognition event will be hosted in November to acknowledge stakeholders’ contributions over the past 50 years.

The activities conclude with an event to be staged jointly with the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) and Aeronautical Telecommunications Limited (AEROTEL) in recognition of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) 80th anniversary, being observed in 2024.

“We celebrate in Jamaica, each year, what is called International Civil Aviation Day (ICAD) on December 7. This year ICAD will be bigger than in previous years because of the special anniversary as we, once again, join forces with the JCAA and AEROTEL to recognise AAJ’s 50th anniversary as part of that ICAD celebration,” Mr. Deidrick said.

“It will be a doubling up of AAJ’s 50th into the ICAD celebration which the AAJ will seek to put on as part of the ICAD celebration,” Mr. Deidrick added.

The AAJ was established as an independent statutory body by the Airports Authority Act of 1974 to take over the ownership, management and control of the Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport.